Effect of neodymium ions on the parameters of volume Bragg gratings recorded in chlorine- containing photo-thermo-refractive glasses

Abstract

Subject of study. Chlorine-containing photo-thermo-refractive (PTR) glass activated by neodymium ions is studied. Aim of study. The aim is to study the effect of neodymium concentration on photo-thermo-induced crystallization and the refractive index modulation amplitude in the volume Bragg grating recorded in the glass. Method. To obtain the values of refractive index modulation amplitude, volume Bragg gratings are recorded in this glass. The angular selectivity contours of the transmission beam were measured. The values of the refractive index modulation amplitude are calculated using the coupled wave theory. Main results. The maximum values of the refractive index modulation amplitude in the virgin undoped chlorine-containing PTR glass and the glass doped with neodymium are 1.6×10−3 and 0.6×10−3, respectively. Practical significance. The chlorine-containing PTR glass activated with rare-earth ions gives an opportunity to record volume Bragg gratings. It opens new possibilities for its application in integrated optics devices, such as distributed-feedback lasers.